Competition

Orienteering is a particularly appealing discipline as it establishes a close connection between physical activity and nature. This sport is immensely popular in Scandinavia and other Northern European countries. It was no coincidence that the Finnish University Sports Federation (OLL) organised the first World University Championship Orienteering in Jyväskylä in 1978. The event was an unequivocal success, attracting 129 competitors from 17 countries. Since then, a further several editions have taken place, with the number of participants continually increasing. The 2016 edition in Miskolc, Hungary, set a new record with 266 athletes from 34 countries.


Orienteering originated in the Nordic countries, with Norway, Sweden, and Finland initially sharing the top positions. During the 1990s, European involvement expanded, with countries such as the Czechia, France, and Switzerland securing prominent results. Significant efforts have been made to promote the sport worldwide, yet European nations have predominantly led the way in achieving top results.


For instance, France discovered orienteering at the end of the 1960s, thanks to a Swedish compass salesman who fell in love with the French countryside. After its emergence within the Boy Scout movement, the sport was adopted by the military and eventually gained popularity within the university sector. Today, the sport benefits from the support of a vast pool of around 250,000 student participants. This was demonstrated in the French city of Roanne, where the World University Championship was held in 2000. France has been one of the most successful countries in the FISU World University Championship Orienteering since that time.


Since 2000, orienteering competitions have continued to evolve, with top athletes from nearly every country taking part. The IOF World Champions in 2014—Judith Wyder (Switzerland) in Sprint, Thierry Gueorgiou (France) in Long, and the Swiss teams in Sprint and the ladies’ relay—all competed in the World University Championships. The FISU World University Championships are regarded as some of the most demanding events in the global orienteering community and are considered an important step for aspiring champions.


The 2020 FISU World University Championship Orienteering was scheduled to be held in Smolensk, Russia, but was unfortunately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the Championship was hosted by Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, with 27 countries participating and a total of 222 athletes, and the 2024 event was organised by Bansko, Bulgaria. The event featured intense navigation and endurance challenges across Bulgaria’s scenic mountain terrain and counted on the participation of 247 athletes, representing 30 countries.